More than a strongman? In India, coalition politics will be Modi’s third-term test – By Fahad Shah (CS Monitor) / June 14, 2024
Having taken his oath and appointed his Cabinet, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on his third term in office this week. But all is not the same in Delhi.
During the recent general elections, Mr. Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party fell 32 seats short of the majority mark in India’s Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament, turning two regional parties into kingmakers. After 10 years of Mr. Modi wielding nearly absolute authority, this administration will rely heavily on the support of the Telugu Desam Party and Janta Dal United, whose leaders cosigned the new government but have also made it clear that they don’t agree with everything the BJP stands for.
The coalition dynamics will test Mr. Modi’s political acumen as he navigates the diverse demands of his allies and party. The future of his government hinges on this balance, with major implications for Indian democracy.
The BJP still holds significant power, but Zoya Hasan, professor emerita at the Centre for Political Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, says the election verdict “marks a return to coalition politics.”
CONTINUE > https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-South-Central/2024/0614/india-modi-coalition-bjp-election
